Stamp-affixing device.



M. J. GRAEF. STAMP AFFIXING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.23, 1912.

1, 1 1 7,488. Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

2 SHEBTSSHBET 1.

WITNESSES [II/army YHE NORRIS PETERS co. PHOTOLITNO WASHINGTON.

M. J. GRAEF. STAMP AFFIXING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1912.

2 BHEBTSSHIIET 2.

WITNESSES THE NORRIS PETERS C0, PHOTO-LUNG, WA all/N 1 mum L.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

MICHAEL JOSEF GRAEF, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

STAMP-AFFIXING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1'7, 1914.

Application filed March 23, 1912. Serial No. 685,764.

To all whom it may cmwern Be it known that I, MICHAEL Josnr GRAEF, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Stamp-Alfixing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to stamp atlixing devices and aims to provide such a device that will positively affix a stamp to an envelop or the like through the instrumentality of the elements embodied herein and that will be hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the appended claims.

An object of this invention is to provide a device of the foregoing nature which consists of a few operating parts thereby reducing to a great extent the loss of energy due to friction.

Another object of this invention is to provide a stamp affixing device wherein all the operating parts are nor that access may be readily had to them for the purpose of their removal and attachment of new parts whenever occasion reuires.

With the foregoing and other objects in view my invention consists in such details of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the sev eral views, and in which Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved stamp aflixing device, Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the same, Fig. 3 is a side elevation, Fig. l is a cross sectional view of the device taken on line li of Fig. 2, Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3, Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line t5(5 of Fig. 3,Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6, Fig. 8 is a cross sectional View taken on line 8S of Fig. 7, Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a detail portion of my device, Fig. 10 is another detail ylew.

In the accompanying drawmgs which fully illustrate the preferred form of my invention, the numeral 1 designates the body portion thereof which is provlded at 1ts ends with the cross pieces 2. The body portion of my invention is preferably formed from metal.

However, I desire it to be underdisposed in such a manstood that any other suitable substance may be substituted without departing from the v,

spirit of the invention in the least.

The under side of the body portion has projecting thcrointo a sheet member 3 which serves a purpose that will be hereinafter more fully specified. One edge of the mem her 3 is slightly upturned as shown at L thereby obviating any diiliculty in moving the device over an envelop to its position.

The cross pieces 5 are journaled through the body portion and adapted to receive rubher rolls (3 through which are adapted to be fed stamps in the manner set forth hereinafter. For the purpose of moistcning the underside of the stamps as they are fed over the rolls (3, a perforated tube 7 is provided which carries therein a sponge member 8. W atcr may be admitted to the sponge memher for the purpose of keeping the same moistened through one end of the tube 7 which is left open. It is now readily ob vious that the roll (3 and the tube 7 are disposed flush with the surface of a platform 9 which extends across the body portion and has connection with the member The stamps a re adapted to be held upon the platform and by so disposing the rolls and perforated tube they may be more readily fed onto the envelop as will hereafter appear.

The cross pieces 5 and the roll 7 are provided at one end with gear wheels 10 which mesh with the rack bar 11., the said rack bar beingslidal'ily mounted within a substantially tubular shaped element 12 which is supported upon the body portion as shown at '13. A. slot 1 1: is provided in the upper portion of the element 12 through which extends a handle 1.5 which is fast to the rack bar through the medium of an arm 16 and has journalcd therethrough a rod 17 as shown at 18. The rod above mentioned has coiled thercal'iout a spring 19 which is adapted to return the handle to position after-it has been operated. A portion 20 of the handle projects through a second slot 21 in the element 12 for a purpose that will presently appear. It is now readily obvi ous that when the handle 15 is operated either manually or mechanically that the rack bar will be so moved as to rotate the rollers and the tube. When stamps are held upon the platform and this operation occurs one of them will be automatically fed onto an envelop (not shown). After pressure is released from the handle it will be returned into its former position through the medium of the coil spring 19.

Secured to the rack bar at one end as shown at 22 and having its other end operative through the element 12 is a rod 23. This rod is spaced from the rack bar adistance nearly the length of the body portion of the device whereupon it is abruptly bent downwardly as shown at 24 and secured to the bar. A curled end 25 of a cross arm 26 operates upon the rod for a purpose hereinafter appearing. The body portion is provided with a slot 27 through which extends one end of the cross arm The end of the cross arm which extends through the slotis, as above pointed out, mounted upon the rod 23. The other end of the cross arm is journaled in the body portion at a point considerably below the horizontal plane wherein operates its other end. Secured to the cross arm 26 and preferably intermediate its ends is a plug which carries at its under side a plate The underside of the plate may be provided with strips of blotting material or the like for obvious purposes. It will now be appreciated that when the handle is operated in the manner set forth above, and the curled portion of the cross arm 26 contacts with the bent portion 24 of the rod 23, that the plate 29 will be lowered considerably. lV hen this operation occurs and when a stamp has been fed over the rolls and tube and is moved beneath the plate, it will be positively applied to the element therebeneath.

It has proved advantageous to provide a means for securing a plurality of stamps upon the platform 9 and with this in View a hollow member 30 is provided Within the body portion and provided with apertures 31 at its sides. A plate 32 is provided which carries an extension 33 which extends through the apertures 31 in the member 30. For the purpose of holding the plate in place, a leaf spring 34 is provided upon its upper side and is disposed as illustrated. The attachment of the plate and the removal thereof is greatly facilitated by the provision of an eyelet 35.

In the operation of my invention, the stamps are first disposed within the device beneath the plate 32, the latter of course holding the same forcibly upon the platform, the lower of the stamps being in. engagement with one of the rolls 6. The device is then held in the hand of the operator and placed upon the envelop at a predetermined point, after which the knob 15 is pushed forwardly. The manipulation of the knob 15 will cause actuation of the rack bar 11 which in turn causes the member 25 to travel upon the rod This operation will of course depress the rod and impart a subsequent movement to the pressure plate 29. By this time the rolls 6 and roll adapted to feed said moistening element 7 have been rotated,

will be readily appreciated.

I desire it to be understood that I may make slight changes in the construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts provided such changes fall within the scope of the subjoined'claims.

I- aving thus fully described my invention, what T claim as new Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described, a body portion provided with a platform for holding a plurality of stamps, a moistening roll carried by said body portion and disposed fiush with the surface of said plat form, feed rolls carried by said body portion for feeding stamps over said moistening roll, a plate carried within said body portion and adjacent one of said feed rolls adapted to be depressed when said rolls are rotated for the purpose described.

2. In a device of the character described, a body portion, a platform provided in said body portion for holding a quantity of stamps, a moistening roll carried by said body portion and flush with the surface of said platform, feed rolls adjacent said moistening roll and adapted to feed said stamps beneath a plate which is carried within said body portion, gear wheels upon said rolls, means for rotating said gear wheels, said means adapted to operate said plate for the purpose described.

3. In a device of the character described, a body portion having its upper side open, a platform therein for supporting a quantity of stamps, a moistening roll positioned within said body portion and flush with the surface of said platform, a pressure plate mounted within said body portion feed rolls disposed upon each side of said moistening stamps beneath said plate carried within said body portion, gear wheels carried by said rolls, a substanti ally tubular shaped element carried by one side of said body portion, a rack bar operating within said element and adapted to mesh with said gear wheels, a handle connected to said rack bar, whereby it may be moved so as to rotate said rolls, thereby feeding said stamps beneath said plate, and means carried upon said rack barwhereby said plate may be depressed for the purpose described.

4. In a device of the and desireto secure by character described,

ing platform, a moistening roll provided within said body portion and flush with the surface of said platform, feed rolls disposed upon each side of said moistening roll,gear wheels carried by said rolls, a substantially tubular member carried by one side of said body portion and having a rack bar operative therein, said rack bar adapted to mesh with the said gear wheels, a handle projecting through the upper and lower sides of said substantially tubular shaped member, a rod secured upon said rack bar a cross arm having one end journaled in said body portion, the other end connected to said rod, a plate supported by said cross arm and means whereby when said handle is operated, said plate will be depressed for the purpose described.

5. In a device of the-character described, a body portion provided with a stamp holding platform, a moistening roll carried by said body portion and flush with the surface of said platform, feed rolls disposed upon each side of said moistening rolls, gear wheels carried by said rolls, a substantially tubular shaped element carried by said body portion, a rack bar meshing with said gear wheels and operating within said element, a handle carried by said rack bar and adapt ed to project through the upper and lower sides of said element, a rod journaled through said element, a coil spring surrounding said rod, a portion of said handle operatingupon said rod and engaging said coil spring, a rod having one end secured to said rack bar and the other end operative through said element, said body portion provided at one side with a slot through which is adapted to extend one end of a cross arm, one end of said cross arm adapted to operate upon said second mentioned rod, the other end of said cross arm adapted to be journaled in said body portion, a plate supported by said cross arm, said handle adapted to be operated against the tension of said Copies of thispatent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. G.

said rolls may be operated by said rack bar and said plate de pressed for the )urpose described.

6. A stamp allixer including a body having a portion thereof formed to provide a platform for holding the stamps, means for holding the stamps from displacement on said platform, means for moistening and conveying the stamps to a predetermined point, and a plate for aflixing the stamps to objects automatically upon their arrival at said predetermined points.

7. A device of the character described including a body portion having a supporting portion integrally formed therein, a detachable securing plate carried within said body portion above said supporting portion for holding stamps on said supporting portion, feed and moistening rollers journaled in said body for moistening and feeding the stamps to a predetermined point, and a reciprocating pressure plate actuable in said body with the operation of said rollers, for applying the stamps to objects placed beneath said plate.

8. In a device of the character described, a body portion including a supporting part to hold stamps thereon, a detachable securing plate mounted above said supporting part for retaining the stamps from displacement, feed rolls to convey the stamps to a predetermined point, a moistening element mounted between said feed rolls whereby the stamps are moistened While being conveyed, a reciprocating pressure plate for afiixing the stamps to an object upon their arrival at said predetermined point, and, means for actuating said feed rolls, said moistening element, and said pressure plate, substantially as described.

MICHAEL JOSE]? GRAEF.

WVitnesses HENRY KELLER, MILO RUBER.

coil spring whereby Commissioner of Patents, 

